Family Pictures 2016

To see last years family/maternity pictures click here

A big thank you to melissa kelly photography  once again for beautiful pictures that we will forever cherish. 

Landon-Five years old

Oliver- Four years old

Trent- Two and a half

Rose-One year old (almost)

Lacie- One year old

Rose||11 Months Old

You can find Rose's 10 month update here

Here we are already one month away from Rose's first birthday! This is around the time Matt and I were talking about having more babies with Oliver and with Trent. Rose is our last baby, so this is a very bittersweet time. As she gets closer to walking and after getting her first tooth (!), I am all emotional. I remind myself how complete I feel with her here--I don't wonder about having more babies or feel like anyone is missing from our family. I look forward to watching our kids grow and move out of the diaper stage! Talking about potty training, Trent is 100% potty trained and it only took about 3 days! We did it before he turned 2 and a half and haven't looked back! 

Breastfeeding: I have said this before, but when Rose was taken to the NICU for low oxygen levels. I thought for sure I wouldn't be able to nurse because the same thing happened with Oliver. He was taken to the NICU for quick breathing and the nurses without asking me gave him a bottle of formula right away. My milk was not in yet and after having Landon so prematurely, I didn't know that its okay for them just to have colostrum (they need just a teaspoon to eat their first 24 hours!) I even had a nurse tell me it would make Olivers stay there shorter! Obviously, he preferred the bottle despite my effort to nurse him once he was home, so I gave up. 

My breastfeeding journey with Rose has been the best I think a breastfeeding relationship can go. We are quickly approaching our one year mark with nursing (which was always my goal!) I have been getting more attached to our bond and want to push weaning her a little longer. Rose got her first tooth the day before she turned 11 months (the earliest of all my children!) This has made her extra clingy and nursing more often so I really doubt she will self wean. Rose has nursed the longest out of all of my babies. She was the only one to refuse a bottle since being home or a pacifier (she likes to chew on them though!) Nursing is the only thing to comfort her when she falls or gets a shot. It has been the best experience, better than I could have imagined! With Trent he nursed well, but he preferred the bottle. He loved how it came out faster and there was more usually. I pumped at least twice a day with him and that was hard to do with two toddler and a baby! I got mastitis few times and even got thrush once! Don't get me wrong, I will always cherish the memories of nursing Trent! It has been a totally different experience since day one with Rose even though she came a month early, she latched on very well from the start and always nursed well during her stay in the NICU (better than she took the bottles the nurses had to give her when I couldn't be there.) I especially don't miss cleaning pump parts multiple times a day! 

Sleep: Rose is napping twice a day once around 9am (depending on when she wakes up) and then once more with Trent around 12pm. I usually go in and feed her before I go to bed around 9pm, if I don't she will usually wake up around 12am. One thing I know will be hard after Rose has weaned is getting her to fall asleep on her own without nursing. 

Solids: Since getting her first tooth she hasn't been eating much solids at all. She pushes away from her purees and just throws her food.

Personality: Rose is a Mama's girl-- she loves to cuddle me and be on my hip constantly even more so since she's teething. She loves ice cold water in her Zoli sippy cup and pizza crust! The good news is she seems to love attention and gets plenty of that from her big brothers constantly hugging and kissing her, she usually returns the love with a big open mouth kiss!

New this month: 

New this month: Rose has been cruising along the couch and has stood alone with no help a few times. 

Clearly saying "Dada" to Matt and "Mama" to me, "Papa" and we even heard her say "Landon" a few times! She refers to nursing as "nummies." I used to call her yogurt drops "nummies."

Weight: around19lbs

Height: We will find out next month

Clothing Size:12-18 month

Eye Color: dark brown

Hair: lighter brown and straight
Teeth: 1 her right bottom center and the start of the second(left bottom center) 

Dislikes: Being held by other people, being moved away from doing something naughty
Likes:Shreaking randomly, nursing, showers/baths with Mommy, her brothers attention, pulling her bows over her eyes, putting everything in her mouth especially her fingers, grabbing and pulling our dog Lacie's fur and my hair, being held.

Rose||10 Months Old

Wow! I feel like this past month just flew by! I completely forgot about Rose turning 10 months. Partly because I have been so busy, but subconsiously I don't want her to be 10 months! I am in denial over here. The first year with your baby goes so unbelievably fast-- enjoy it! Before you know it you'll be helping them blow out their first birthday candle. 

Here is a little update on our girl: 

Breastfeeding: Rose is still nursing around 6 or 7 times a day. There were a few days last month (when she was sleeping really well) that I felt like I wasn't making as much milk. I have been offering nursing more to Rose during the day which she almost always wants to nurse. It is just hard to find the time with camps and with her older brothers being so loud haha. As we get closer to Roses first birthday, I get more attached to our nursing relationship. Especially since she is our last baby. There are nights when she goes to bed at 7pm and she is still asleep at 3am. I wake up out of habit and sneak in just to cuddle and nurse her because I know soon I won't be able to. 

Sleep: Rose is napping twice a day once around 8 or 9am depending on when she woke up and then once more with Trent around 12pm. If I am lucky she might take one more nap around 4pm, but for the most part she has dropped this nap.

Solids: Just like the boys, Rose at 10 months still has no teeth. I don't expect her to get any until after she turns one. We have taken a step back from purees this month. This is only because she eats a few bites and then does not want anymore so they go in the refrigerator usually we forget about it then it ends up in the trash. If we are eating something I think Rose can handle (with no teeth) then she will just eat that.

Personality: Rose is still a Mamas girl, but has been a lot better about others holding her. If Rose is not familiar with you, she won't let you hold her and we don't push her because its not worth having her cry for 20 minutes recovering haha! Rose loves to explore and learn new things. Like pretty much all babies her age she touches and grabs everything and puts it right in her mouth. 

New this month: 

Clearly saying "dada" to Matt and "mama" to me, "papa" and we even heard her say "Landon" a few times!

Weight: 18.5 or 19lbs

Height: 27.5 inches? Hard to measure her

Clothing Size:9-12 month some 12-18 month

Eye Color: dark brown

Hair: Brown and straight
Teeth: 0

Dislikes: Being held by other people, being moved away from doing something naughty
Likes: Nursing, showers/baths with Mommy, her brothers attention, pulling her bows over her eyes, putting everything in her mouth especially her fingers, grabbing and pulling our dog Lacie's fur and my hair, being held.

A Day in the Life

My last "Day In A Life" can be found here.

Today is Thursday, June 9th

Landon is 5 years old 
Oliver is 4 years old 
Trent is 2 years old
Rose is 9 months old 

 4:30am-- My alarm goes off! Time get ready for my Pure Barre class that starts at 5am. Once I am ready, I go downstairs to eat a banana and drink some coffee then I head back upstairs.

4:48am-- When I went to bed at 9pm, I went in and fed Rose. She actually had not woken up on her own since I put her to bed at 6:30pm, which is amazing for her. I once again woke Rose (I know, I know never wake a sleeping baby) to feed her because I figured she would  probably wake up when I was gone at class and I also didn't want to workout with my engorged chest! 

4:56am-- I realize it has gotten late and I really need to get out of the house before I am late for class.

5am-- I get to the Pure Barre studio and feel lucky I live so close.

6:03am-- Snap a picture with the amazing owner and instructors!!

6:08am-- Everyone still seems to be asleep (never happens.) I take Lacie out before the boys stampede down the stairs.

6:18am--The boys come downstairs which of course wakes Rose up (their room is right next to hers.) Matt wakes up and gets her from her crib and I ask the boys to go to the bathroom while I heat up the oven to make cinnamon buns.

Side note: The boys have a OK to wake clock in their room that turns green every morning at 6:15am,

 6:24am-- Rose and I play while the boys are in their seats, watching a show. Once breakfast is ready, they eat and get out of their seats to play.

7:27am- Landon and Oliver are playing legos and Trent is playing with hot wheels (his new favorite!)

8am-- I take Rose upstairs to nurse her and put her down for her morning nap.

8:14am--- Sound asleep! I then get the boys clothes together. They are currently in swim camp this week. I get their swimsuits and clothes for after and Matt gets Trent dressed. During Roses nap I shower (finally) and get dressed for the day. Once I am done, I make Matt's lunch and get the boys a snack.

9am (about)-- Rose wakes up and I get her changed. Completely by coincidence, I dress  her to match me, haha!

9:18am-- Matt informs me Rose and I are twinning and of course we now have to take a picture to document it.

9:36am-- I get the kids in the car and we head to swim camp.

9:42am-- We arrive and meet up with my parents!

10:15am-- Class is over! I rinse off the boys while my parents watch Rose and Trent and I get them changed out of their swim clothes. We are going out for an early lunch at a town center near by.

11:05-- We arrive at the parking lot of the town center. I know Rose will not eat out in public so I ask my parents to take the boys to walk around while I feed her in the car. Rose loves to play while she eats by play, I mean hit me and pull my hair.

11:23 am-- We enjoy this nice weather and walk around. I brought the boys sandwiches from home and we get fresh pop tarts from one of our favorite restaurants! Of course, I forgot to bring myself anything to eat so I inhale a pop tart while the boys play with my dad and Rose judges me from the stroller.

12:03pm-- On our way home I do everything in my power to keep Rose and Trent awake because if they take even a 5 minute car nap they will not nap at home.


12:37pm-- Trent gets into bed after I change him and I get the older boys settled for "quiet time" Once Trent is asleep, I feed Rose and put her to sleep too.

1:32-- Finally things are settling down and I get to do the dishes. I also give the older boys their pop tarts.

2:13-- I take some pictures to list a few of Roses gently used bows and clothes to hopefully sell.

2:19pm-- Rose is up! Not her best nap, but I will take it! I play with her and do the best I can to pick up her room and the house in general.

3:30pm-- Trent is up! I get him a drink and put his shoes on him. I also change Rose again and we all head outside to walk Lacie.

4:01-- We arrive at the frozen yogurt store. Before heading in I feed Rose again. Every time I take all the kids out by myself I always have people looking at them all and me. I can see them counting them all in their head!

4:50pm-- We arrive back home and I feed Rose a puree pouch and start boiling water while the boys sit at the dinner table playing their new favorite thing "foam!"


5:33 --Dinner is ready! I put on a show for the boys and head up stairs to feed Rose who has not napped since 1pm and is a wreck. While Rose is asleep and the boys are being good eating, I quickly change because I am meeting up with some moms from Landons class for dinner!

6:08pm-- Matt is home! I grab the boys PJ for him and kiss everyone goodbye!

6:18pm-- I arrive at the restaurant and at this point I am ready for a nap haha, but I enjoy having these moms to relate to and its so nice having an adult conversation without getting interrupted every two minutes.

9:03pm-- I arrive home and talk to Matt for a little while before head upstairs to change, kiss the boys and feed Rose (who is still asleep, but I missed her!!)

by 10pm I am finally in bed exhausted and fall right to sleep!

Rose||9 Months Old

Rose's eight month update can be found here

Trent's nine month update can be found  here

Breastfeeding: Rose nurses around 6 or 7 times a day. Usually once at night she will wake up between 12-3am. Obviously, there are times when it is difficult like when we are out in public and it is loud and she can't focus. The bond nursing has brought us is priceless though and I wouldn't change a thing. 

Sleep: Bedtime is still 7pm, but some nights Rose goes to sleep as early as 6pm! Recently, she hasn't been taking her 3rd late afternoon nap so when 5/6pm rolls around she a wreck. The only thing that calms her down is nursing and if I nurse her she falls right asleep. 

Solids: Still no teeth for my girl-- just a lot of drooling and putting everything in her mouth. Rose will take one puree pouch a day and I offer her yogurt drops when we are eating dinner, but they usually end up on the floor. 

Personality: There is no doubt of Rose's attachment to her Mama! She loves to be held by me, pull my hair and smack me in the face, haha! The second I put her down or give her to anyone she cries. Usually she can be calmed after a few minutes especially if its someone Rose knows holding her like Matt obviously or my Mom or Dad. Recently, Rose has been screaming, just like a quick little shreak at the top of her lungs. It's playful, she's not in pain or upset it is so funny to her brothers. She will repeatedly do it in her carseat and it actually hurts my ears!!

New this month: 

Pulling to a stand, waves and  claps 

Weight: 18lbs

Height: 27 inches

Clothing Size:9-12 month some 12-18 month

Eye Color: dark brown

Hair: Brown and straight
Teeth: 0

Dislikes: Being held by other people, being moved away from doing something naughty, using a tissue on her nose, getting her dressed and diaper changes she always tries to roll away. 
Likes: Nursing, showers/baths with Mommy, her brothers attention, pulling her bows over her eyes, putting everything in her mouth especially her fingers, grabbing and pulling our dog Lacie's fur and my hair, being held.